{MissLeaAnne} I have never once in my life liked polka dot jeans. I have a very serious fear of polka dots and other things that make it more likely I'll get carded for buying an R-rated DVD. But with a camel sweater and leopard heels? Done.

{Sarah's Real Life & lenore lamé} Proving that my fiscally responsible inner demons are stupid and wrong, especially where Target is concerned. I've been pining over Sarah's skirt & Jacy's sweater every time I go grocery shopping, and as I suspected, they are perfect... I'd like to suggest a body part for my anti-shopping conscious to snack on, Elan Gale-style.

The World Outside of Style Blogs

I started a new job with a start-up company that I'm really, really excited about.Find out more here.

I'm so excited to be one of the first Chicago Outfitters for Trumaker, a San Francisco-based company that makes custom, built-to-fit shirts for men. (...women love our shirts too! If you've been searching for the perfect boyfriend-fit shirt, you're in luck.)

These J.Crew/Brooks Brothers/Thomas Pink-quality shirts are totally customizable (think collar style, pockets, room for a watch) and, starting at just $98, the cost and time of tailoring are already included.

Once your first shirt is delivered and you confirm that the fit is perfect, your preferences and measurements are entered into your online account, and you can shop without thinking about sizing ever again.

Dry clean friendly and machine washable. Say whaaaaa?

Out here in the blogosphere, we sometimes forget that the sacred act of shopping isn't fun for everyone. Most men hate malls, and they really hate shelling out cash (that would be better spent on an almost-legal scotch or the Xbox One) than on clothes that don't even fit right. Most off-the-rack shirts don't fit most men, and most men would rather chew off their own arm than spend precious non-9-to-5 time at the tailor. An absolutely customized, perfect-fitting shirt is a little day-to-day luxury that guys may not think to get for themselves.

If you're in the Chicago/Kansas City/Indianapolis areas, I'd love to talk to you about getting the men in your life hooked on Trumaker! Bloggers, if you (or your husband/boyfriend/best friend/brother/dad/coworkers) are interested in reviewing a Trumaker shirt, you're going to love the referral program. And ohhh yes, little elves, we do have gift cards.

{Hello Fashion} If I had a dollar for every time I've almost pulled the trigger on a sequin maxi skirt… I'd probably have enough to buy a sequin maxi skirt.

{Let It Be Beautiful} This post (and knowing I was about to sit through a freezing cold football game) was the kick in the pants I needed to go pick up the Zara blanket scarf. Pics coming soon… as in tomorrow.

First things first, I passed on the necklace from yesterday because I really, really wanted to wear this outfit.

Second things second, I had an interview - not to be a lawyer. I'm looking into getting back in to event planning, and even though it feels a little silly to have gotten a law degree just to go right back to what I did in undergrad, I'm excited. With the legal market being what it is (shitty, is what it is), it's nice to have some options. Plus... I love planning almost as much as I love clothes. So cross your fingers for me.

Third things third, this is like fifth day hair. Not to toot my own horn or anything but TOOT TOOT MOTHASUCKAS. Pro tip: when your hair is greasy at the roots from, you know, not washing it and nasty at the ends from wearing it in a messy bun the day before, dry shampoo + all of the heat spray + baby curling iron + all of the hairspray = passable updo.

And thissss is what I wore to my Gap shift that I picked up last minute. Have I mentioned that I love working in retail? Why have I never worked in retail? I organized the entire clearance section and it was like therapy. Touching clothes makes me happy.

Day two at Gap = lots of folding aka lots of petting pretty things. I ain't mad at it.

Anyway, y'all know I love neon. I love head to toe neon, I love brights on brights... surprise surprise, I loved me some Lisa Frank back in the day. I aspire to be an air traffic control person, waving little neon orange sticks around and letting the power go to my head. But sometimes, I want my neon to look a little more grown up, and when that happens I wear one piece of neon and some gold accessories. Am I qualified to give style advice? ehhhh. But assuming I am for the next ten seconds or so, skip the colorblocking and try out neon and metallics next time you give your highlighter clothes a go-round.

And because Gap knows my soul, here are some neon-ey outfits that came to me during my fitting room adventures/wildest dreams:

So... this is awkward. I think I cheated at Take One, Pass It On. But I literally (not actually literally... I may exaggerate, but I am literate) could not peel this sweatshirt off my body all weekend. So I stopped fighting it and wore the damn thing to my first night of work at Gap!!!

I love it. Except I want to buy the entire store, men's side included. THOSE PLAIDS.

And the discount. ahmaaahhhzzzing. Except I have to pay rent before I can use it...

The moral of this story is go buy this sweatshirt and also I can now fold jeans better than you.

So Ender's Game and Thor were phenomenal. And now I have the Hunger Games double feature to look forward to next week, and this gem comes out next year. Sleeping Beauty is my jam. Have I ever told you guys that my grandma tried to name me Briar Rose? Hand to God.

Paperless Post, where have you been all my life? I love sending birthday cards, Christmas cards, just because cards... but sometimes it's such a hassle to track down an address, make sure you have stamps, and find a post office box. These have cute envelopes and everything! I'm sold.

This pin works, by the way. But slow your roll Paula Deen, you do NOT need an entire stick of butter.

So I inadvertently dressed like an elf today. Snowflake sweater, green and red everything, silver and gold "tinsel"... it's official, I've become my mother. The woman tries to put the tree up before Halloween.

Thanks so much for all your tights advice this week! I'm putting together a tights guide for people who hate tights. It's my calling, I think. Anyway, I'm pulling some of your advice from the comments (with credit, of course!) and if you have any more, I'd love to hear it. Tweet me or email me your little nuggets of genius!

So yesterday, I found $80 in Kohl's cash that I swore I threw away, and even though it was expired, the lady at Kohl's agreed to accept it "as long as I spent the full $80 on this trip."

OH DARN.

And that's how this delightful, sparkly, J.Crew knock-off-ey, technically free sweatshirt came home with me. And then Boyfriend was all, come help me decide if I need a 55" or a 60" 3D TV (because boys)... oh Best Buy is right beside The Cheesecake Factory, we should probably go... and this is one reason why I have fairly frequent moments where I'm all yeah, I'll keep you.

Also... I start work at Gap this week! I'm so excited, and I can't believe I've never worked in retail. Obviously I'd love to be starting my legal career, but since options are slim right now, I'm happy to have some kind of paycheck and a dress code that's awwweeesssooome. As in, I could wear this to work. Pinch meeeeee

I am right on the cusp on my first Chicago winter, and having nearly lost a hand and two hussy ankles to frostbite while walking home from getting froyo last night (no gloves, cuffed jeans, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, strawberries, and cheesecake pieces on top of cake batter frozen yogurt), I can appreciate the objective value of things that allow you to keep your outer extremities.

HOW-FUCKING-EVER.

I hate tights. I hate them. I would love this outfit 100x more without the tights (and, you know, if it were 65 and sunny outside. that may be the real issue here) but the tights and sub-cheerful-Sam temps are here to stay. I suppose I could have gone with colored tights, but I feel like a clown in colored tights, and clown is not the vibe I'm going for.

I'd rewear my vest every day of this Take One, Pass It On challenge, but I feel like I'd be missing the general point of it being, you know, challenging.

So instead, I took the bro-iest shoes in my closet and decided to girlify them like no grandpa shoe had been girlified before with a hot pink shirt and a mini. And tights. And a leather jacket. BECAUSE SNOW. Surprise snow, which is the best kind, especially when you walk five blocks to Starbucks without an umbrella or a hat because it's not snowing and then you have to walk five blocks home in a slush storm.

Hooking up (platonically... winkity wink) with Walking in Memphis in High Heels and The Fashion Canvas for the Trend Spin Linkup - Brights!

ahhhh... The Vest. I adore this thing. I only have one other vest (a situation which should be remedied immediately if not sooner, obviously, probably with either this or this), a white pleather number from Forever, that I thought at the time would go with everything but in reality somehow goes with nothing. Clothes are weird.

My grandpa loafers are sort of the same thing. I don't think I've worn them on the blog since this outfit, because I feel like there's a pretty specific vibe they give off, but instead of giving up on them like I do my poor pleather vest, I think of them as playing hard to get. They're like the unsluttiest shoes in my closet, both because no self-respecting whoring jezebel would be seen in loafers and because they don't go with just anything.

My 10 question for any of you who feel like answering (tag, you're all it!!):
1. What movie are you most excited to see?
2. What's your perfect date? (Don't say April 25th. Or do.)
3. Show us your pets. Dooo itttt.
4. Who's your celebrity style icon?
5. What's your favorite thing you wore this week?
6. If you could only shop at one store for the rest of time, what would it be?
7. Do you shop online or in stores?
8. What are your three favorite blogs to follow?
9. What's the best book you've read recently?
10. What shoes would you buy first if you won the lottery?

I feel like it used to be a thing that you can't wear navy and black together, kind of like no white jeans after Labor Day and matching your shoes/belt/bag. But I love me some white post-Labor Day, and sometimes I don't even wear belts, and here I am in a navy skirt and black boots and you just never know what I'll do next.

Guys are you sitting down? I have a Target problem. #thankyoucaptainobvi

I can't remember exactly, because I'm pretty sure I black out the second I walk in the door, but I think on this particular trip I went in for shaving cream and came out with this scarf, three bra & panty sets (because Gilligan & O'Malley, ohhh emmm geee), a day planner, and obviously no shaving cream. And somehow, even though I went in intending to spend $3.50 and GTFO, I spend $100 and I'm impressed with myself that it's not more.

Oh, and that vest I can't stop wearing? Went in intending to buy this lamp, left with two lamps, the vest, and a new set of makeup brushes. Psychology majors, there has to be some sort of word for this. Don't worry, I'm not expecting it to be flattering.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

So I did a little Wednesday afternoon window (computer screen) shopping, and since I really shouldn't even spring for a pack of gum right now, I figured I'd share my spoils with you and live vicariously through all the outfit pics you'll tweet at me.

Because you will tweet me outfit pics. That's my price.

That vest, man. That vest.

Be sure to sign up for eBates for an extra 2% cash back, and use code EBATESPLUS for 10% off all plus-size orders, F21SWEATERS10 for 10% off all sweaters, and EXTRA15 for 15% off sale. Happy spending!

I can't help but think that I'd love my outfit from yesterday and this outfit approximately one million fofillion times more if these pants were actually these camo pants from Gap. Because I know I said this yesterday but seriously, if this outfit had some camo, neon, and sequins, it would literally be all of my favorite things in one outfit. And also I'd look like some sort of schizophrenic bedazzled lumber-Yeti.

Check out everyone who's participating in the Take One, Pass It On challenge at Sarah's Real Life.

Even though it was a beautiful wonderful amazing 60 degrees in Chitown yesterday, it's still November, and I still think this outfit is right on the cusp of being too summery for November.

But seasons be damned, it's all of my favorite things in. one. outfit. squuueeeeeeeeeee!!!!
So this is technically my first day passing something on for the Take One, Pass It On challenge at Sarah's Real Life. And I'm a complete puss, so I picked the scarf from yesterday. Start small, aim low!(And thus ended my career in motivational speaking.)

Shopping PSATarget's got a 20% off all clothing and shoe orders over $75 sale going on until November 9th.

Plus, if you have a RedCard you get another 5% off and free shipping.
^^ Don't eeeeeven get me started. I know the RedCard credit card is scary, but you should all have the debit card. It links straight to your checking account, and you get 5% off every purchase and free shipping on every order online. Even furniture! It's insane. Ipso facto you're insane if you don't get one.

PLUS, if you sign up for eBates and shop through the Target link, you get another 6% cash back.
^^ The double cash back from eBates may only last today, so hurry!

Fun scarves are a super safe way to mix prints at work (especially in the winter, I'm suspicious of all you sweat-gland-less weirdos and your summer scarves). If you have to go to court or a meeting or somewhere else that's inherently unfit for fun and enjoyment, leave it at your desk.

I'm joining in the Take One, Pass It On challenge at Sarah's Real Life this month, so be sure to check out everyone else who's playing along and check back here tomorrow to see which one of these pieces gets remixed!